Project: To eat, or not to eat: defining the molecular regulation of macrophage phagocytosis by SIRPα
Villadangos Group
The surface receptor SIRPα plays an important role in regulating phagocytosis by macrophages. This is an vital innate defence mechanism against pathogens and also tumors. We previously found that following sepsis in humans and mice, SIRPa surface levels decreased and this lead to reduced phagocytosis and loss of antimicrobial immunity. However, little is known about the molecular regulation of SIRPα and what causes it to go up or down. This project will use whole-genome wide CRISPR screens to investigate the molecular mechanism of SIRPα modulation. It will define new targets for therapeutics to boost macrophage function against infectious diseases and cancer.
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Villadangos Group
10 vacancies
The Villadangos group studies the first event that triggers adaptive immune responses: the presentation of pathogen or tumour antigens to T cells by dendritic cells, B cells and macrophages. We are characterising the development, regulation and impairment of antigen presenting cells by pathogens, inflammatory mediators and tumours. We are also dissecting the biochemical machinery involved in antigen capture, processing and presentation. We use this knowledge to understand how T cell-dependent immunity is initiated and maintained, and apply it to design better vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious agents and cancer.
Villadangos Group Current Projects
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How to harness the immune system to cure cancer: adoptive cell immunotherapy
Honours
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MR1 – a molecular alarm system for intracellular bacterial infection
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Immunoregulatory functions of the MARCH family of ubiquitin ligases
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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How infection and trauma cause dendritic cell paralysis and lethal immunosuppression
Honours
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Immuno-paralysis following severe infections or trauma
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Improving the formation of protective immunity against human viruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The immune signature of COVID-19 patients
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Trogocytosis: a novel communication system between cells of the immune system
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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To eat, or not to eat: defining the molecular regulation of macrophage phagocytosis by SIRPα
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The immune signature of sepsis
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.